In my humble opinion, those shorts are not flattering for her. In addition, (as someone else commented) I admit I'm a bit surprised with this choice. I could be wrong, but I always expect the First Lady to dress in such a way to reflect her position.
There is a reason I could never hold that title!
What people wear is their business, but when you're in the public eye you make it our business. I do respect her and her position, and what she wore does not change my opinions either pro or con in the slightest. It really isn't that big of a deal to me, I guess.

I'm biased because as far as I am concerned, Michelle Obama is a princess and can do whatever she wants.

However, this is all about context to me. It says she was on vacation at the Grand Canyon. I imagine it is desperately hot there, and there was a lot of walking and activity involved. The shorts seem to be more of a practical measure. She is using them as gear. It's not as though she wears this to formal dinners with foreign diplomats.

Gear, they may be, but I wouldn't wear that to the Grand Canyon even as gear, and nobody is photographing me! Longer gear shorts would have been better.

On a better note, her top with cami looked cool and chic.

And I do like most of her smarter outfits. :)

She does look a little sloppy, but who cares, it's the Grand Canyon. I think it's the shirt more than the shorts that I don't like. Would look better with a couple of buttons buttoned. I like that she doesn't feel she has to go out looking like the First Lady while on a family vacation.

I am torn on this one, is she coming off an airplane? Traveling as first lady? I am not offended but a bit surprised. If they caught a picture actually at the Grand Canyon or engaged in a sporting event it seems perfectly practical (although I think longer shorts are more flattering. But if traveling, why wear gear? So many cuter and cool options.

1. She was with her family at the Grand Canyon. You can't seriously expect her to be in pants and a button down shirt if you've ever been there in the summer. Wicked hot.

2. Slightly longer shorts may have been more "appropriate" for her position, but I really feel she is a role model for normal-bodied women. She's not showing muffin-top, saddle-bags, or cellulite. Her worst offence is wrinkles, which are understandable as she just off the plane. I think she is doing a wonderful job balancing being the new Jackie O with being a woman real people can relate to and learn from. Kudos to her for not having to be a fashion plate every second! And shame on us for expecting it.

I just realized that was a private plane, I thought she might have been in a public airport. That would seem odd to me.
I have no problem with her wearing shorts but agree about the length not being flattering, does not change my opinion of her in the least.

She is so beautiful as is, but I have to agree that the shorts to the top of the knee would be nice on her.

The text states that she was on vacation in the Grand canyon. The rest of her outfit is gear-ish. If ever there is an appropriate time and place for short shorts on a woman over 40- THAT is it! It's unfortuinate that someone snapped a pic of her on vacation. I would hate for anyone to have to see what I wear camping.

This is good entertainment. It's hysterically funny that she and her husband are often the subject of such scrutiny! She's HIKING the Grand Canyon for God's sake, and she has incredibly attractive legs...AND it's like a million degrees :)! I don't have any problems with how she dresses, honestly. She always seems appropriate (respectful) to the situation and yet, still looks like herself. As we all know, that's not easy to pull off. I guess there's a lesson that we can take from this on: "you can't please everyone all the time" when we try and dress ourselves. I think her gear look here is perfect for the activity. You go, Michelle!

I had the same reaction as many of you: she's on a hiking trip. Seems perfectly appropriate.

Also, she is beautiful.

My thoughts - she's on vacation & she's REAL! Gotta love her for being herself! We (society in general) can be entirely too judgemental sometimes.

Sorry Angie, I don't agree with you on this one. To hike in 107 degree weather in the Grand Canyon, one needs gear. And besides, if she were to lengthen her pants to above the knee, I think it would look awful with those hiking shoes, which are a necessity for the activity.

I don't care for 99% of what she wears...I am not crazy about her style at all.

Hang on, ladies!

Michelle O is not hiking as she gets off her private plane. If you are engaging in a sporting activity than by all means wear the right gear. You know I’m ALL for that. And if shorter shorts are what you need when you hike in a 100 degrees then absolutely. You’d be daft if you didn’t wear what was appropriate. But she’s not in the Grand Canyon yet :0)

If she happens to be heading directly to the Grand Canyon from her plane I don't find it reasonable to have to change before hiking. What's wrong with wearing what is appropriate for the activity planned before you start it? Would that mean that if she plans on having lunch there she should wear something more dressy, then change to gear? Let's say she wanted to souvenir shop for the kids after hiking, would she have to change yet again? Seems like a lot of work to me.

I automatically assumed that this was NOT the outfit that Michelle would be hiking in because she was getting off a plane. Hah! I thought: “our first lady in hiking gear on a plane? How odd!”. I guess I just see that type of thing very differently. Oh well :0)

I'm with you Angie, she is getting off Air Force 1...not hiking. She is afterall the closest thing to royalty we have...I wonder *what would *Princess Di* have done different?)

Given that her husband is having death threats over the health care issue, perhaps her secret service agents decided that it was much safer for her to change first on the plane, rather than on the ground in a bathroom somewhere? If she was proceeding from plane to Grand Canyon, this seems wise- especially considering her safety.

But I would give you a point there Angie if they were stopping first to check into a hotel. I have no idea what their agenda was - this is the first I've seen the picture.

I am 100% with Maya on this one. She is fabulous every day and this one is no exception.

I think that photo was taken when they were returning from the Grand Canyon.

Public figures have so much pressure and high expectations for their appearance. I applaud Michelle for dressing for herself and the circumstance. It's interesting, though, that Barack is wearing a crisp white buttondown and dark slacks (khakis?), whereas the rest of the family is wearing shorts and tank tops.

I guess my *fashion bar* is set higher than too short shorts and a tank top....and a perfect example of why I don't care for her style.

I agree that the outfit isn't flattering on her, but I almost find it admirable in a way that she doesn't feel the need to dress up ALL time. She seems totally comfortable in her skin. I like that.

I have mixed feelings about this one. From a fashion perspective, we know our Michelle can do better. However, I love her willingness to be real. Yes, she's the first lady, but she's also a wife and active mom on an active day trip with the family. Did you read recently about her wearing a dress from Target with a designer belt? I love that!

Mrs. O. is one first lady I can relate to on just about every level, and I'm happy to cut her some slack.

Wouldn't it be weirder (and man I can just hear the naysayers complaining) for her to tie up a public restroom to change her clothes between the plane and the Canyon? None of us would do that.

I didn't love the outfit in general but I think the criticism is silly. I think it is appropriate for Michelle O to wear shorts on her "day off" (as if a public figure would have one).

I think without knowing exactly what the circumstances were, it's hard to say how appropriate it is or is not. However, regardless of whether a couple of inches on her shorts would make it acceptable, I don't think it's SO atrocious that she deserves such a beating. I guess we at YLF have high standards and to some extent we have a right to be a bit critical, but really, I have seen SO much worse while traveling. Give the woman a break. She probably deals with more stress and pressure in one day than most of us deal with in an entire lifetime! If there is one day where she isn't perfect, I would rather be supportive than critical.

Chris, You are funny. And not likely to be* checking in* to the local Holiday Inn Express...more likely some Senators nearby mansion.

This Canuk Obama-fan-girl just wants to weigh in on Team Michelle... I can't comment one bit on her style or this outfit in particular, but the fact that she was travelling on a private plane en route to an active vacation gives her the right to wear whatever she wants. I applaud her for having the confidence to sport items I'd never dream of wearing at nearly half her age and for not letting such incessant scrutiny curb her individual preferences. A good example to be setting for her girls, too, in my view.
Angie, what rubs you the wrong way about her style in general?

There was a great post about this very topic on Salon's Broadsheet. My perspective is that she's on vacation, and she is going or was hiking. Yes, she's the first lady, but I don't think that means she needs to be a fashion plate at every moment of every day. She's dressed in a similar style to her girls, and that makes sense to me. That said, I'm pretty biased in her favor. But, honestly, they're shorts with hiking boots, which is fairly appropriate vacation wear for the Grand Canyon - she's not wearing thigh high boots with fishnets and a mini-skirt, or flannel pajamas. She looks a lot like most of the moms visiting the Grand Canyon look, I'm willing to bet.